Classification of soft & hard skills

At the workplace, more than 15 percent workers are dismissed due to lack of skills pertaining to their job

On the contrary, most employees are fired due to the absence of people skills such as professional behaviour at the workplace and effective communication; also known as soft skills. Both, hard and soft skills are essential in a professional milieu as a combination of both creates an effective, efficient, successful and creative workforce which in turn results in a growing organisation.

Understanding hard & soft skills

Hard skills are those required to perform a job including learned skills geared to train an individual for a professional career. These are mostly tangible skills, easily identified and measured through certain tests. When organising a resume or applying for a new job, conveying hard skills to the prospective employer is essential such as schooling, degrees, diplomas and other academic credentials!

Soft skills, on the contrary, are people or interpersonal skills and likely to be observed through a keen eye of entrepreneurs, leaders and communicators. There isn’t any certain tool or system to measure them easily and hence intangible. Soft skills are universal whereas hard skills can’t fit in every job description. As you move jump from one job to another and gain industry experience, soft skills also change and are portable. They’re needed for success when dealing with customers, clients and co-workers.

Examples

Examples or categories of hard skills encompass technical, mechanical, financial and administrative expertise. Besides this, sufficient and working knowledge of computers, writing, operating a particular machine or speaking the second language. In contrast, soft skills can be further broken into three categories that allow you to interact with clients, co-workers and other associates.

This includes networking, communication (demonstration of workplace ethics, appropriate dress, enthusiasm and willingness to learn) and critical thinking. Meanwhile, self-esteem, time management, self-control, effective decision-making and prioritising tasks efficiently are other soft skills most appreciated by employers.

Significance

Both hard and soft skills play by their rules and defines a career in utterly professional touch. Hard skills usually spark an employer’s attention which gets you in the interview and soft abilities help you progress once a part of a company. Perhaps the biggest mistake employee make is neglecting soft skills that are crucial for management to separate potential leaders from other sponsors within an organisation.

Miscellaneous soft skills activities

Soft skills training in Dubai is the best of all since the place is entrepreneurial and a business hub! They’re equally important for successful job interviews, work promotions, foster a healthy professional relationship and achieve the desired organisational goals. The finest examples are teamwork, listening, communication and decision-making. An individual can develop and master soft skills at any stage in life but exposure to real-time business environment gives the best learning. Several cognitive exercises and role-playing games can be helpful.

Decision-making exercises

Generally, there are two responses to every situation that’s either hostile or optimistic and it depends on a person’s temperament as well as the surrounding. Assertive or critical decision-making skills can be learned through role-playing exercises which demonstrate the difference between aggressive and optimistic behavior right from the start. Create conflict-based scenarios and ask all participants to choose a specific role as per the given scenario.

Teamwork

Team collaboration programs improve communication and collaboration skills. Divide participants into different teams and create an obstacle course with chairs and desks. In every team, there has to be a leader with one or more followers who must be blindfolded. Ask each of the leaders to take turns and guide their subordinates through the obstacles and verbal guidelines. In the end, participants would eventually feel confident in their communication and listening skills.

Conclusion

Both soft and hard skills are essential to achieving organisational goals as well as to be professionally confident.